So what? Indians should stop existing now??? Are you an NRI who hates likes to think of his own country as inferior in all aspects? What a pointless and silly article. Western nations are NOT followers of absolute morals. For example, in the context of the "war on terrorism", American government has justified Iraq war, collateral damage (deaths of civilians) in Iraq and Afghanistan, detentions in Guantanamo bay, Patriot Act inside Unites States etc. etc. In the context of the Indian war of Independence in 1857, the British military justified and indulged in large scale killings of civilians in the affected areas. In the context of world war 2, all western powers justified the terror bombings of civilian places like cities. In the context of the fight against communism, western powers justified their alliances with brutal dictators through out the world. In the same context again, the Vietnam war and the usage of the extremely cruel Napalm bombs was justified by America. I can keep writing so many examples here. Dude Raghavan, before you write, at least check whether you are writing sense or nonsense.
RE:So what now???
by Neeraja MBalchander on Dec 18, 2007 04:27 AM Permalink
Well, I think the author really is a better Indian than anyone who blindly supports India. FYI, the most progressive Americans are opposed to the Iraq war, as they were to the napalming of Vietnam. And even if they aren't, that doesn't preclude Indians from being introspective. The West or the Middle East are counter examples, not excuses for us to be stupid and jingoistic.
RE:So what now???
by Fun Lover on Dec 18, 2007 05:02 AM Permalink
Big deal. It can be argued that even the most progressive Indians are opposed to Modi. By the way, in case you did not notice, both Bush and Blair were re-elected AFTER the Iraq war. Also, just before the invasion of Iraq, a majority of Americans were in favor of the war. In America, progressives have a loud voice so you hear them a lot, but there are a good percentage of people who are conservative. And madam, where did I justify jingoism in my post?
RE:So what now???
by Niranjan Balachandran on Dec 18, 2007 08:29 AM Permalink
I don't think the author is ever referring to the western world as any superior to ours. It's just that we (as a nation and not referring to any particular individual) might been tuned into believing or thinking that there is a sense of morality in what someone such as Modi did after the Godhra incident. And the author is pushing a thought that this is embedded deeper in our culture. You may not agree with him but that doesn't make his point nonsense.
RE:So what now???
by Fun Lover on Dec 18, 2007 08:59 AM Permalink
While the author is not explicitly saying that the west is superior, this point is present implicitly in his article. First, he (incorrectly) says that Indians and Westerners follow different style of morals. And next he gives many examples to show why he thinks the Indian morality is flawed. The concluding statement is that there is a problem with all Indians. Most importantly, he says that the absence of moral absolutism (that the West follows according to him) enables us to justify everything. The implication of all this is that the western style of morality is better. Of course, it is a different matter that westerners don't follow absolute morals, which is one reason why the article can be considered to be nonsense. Moral relativism is quite universal. Hence the author's attempts to relate it specifically to our culture (as you suggest) is another instance of a nonsensical conclusion.
Now coming to Modi and Gujarat - It is true that Gujaratis probably believed that Modi was doing the right thing. But neither does this have anything to do with culture (especially not the Gita, if that is what you are intending), nor is it unique to Gujaratis. Also, given that the BJP lost the national elections in 2004, it is debatable whether the entire nation shared this feeling. Moreover, similar feelings are almost omnipresent. Muslims on September 11, Americans on Fallujah, Iraq etc. Israelis on Lebanon can all be accused of having similar feelings.
